Climate Change

22-Nov-11

Through our 7 commitments on climate change the RTPI promotes a positive and realistic response to the challenges of climate change.

latest news

Climate change

The RTPI Transport and Development Planning Networks have written a discussion paper on Peak Oil - Implications for Planning Policy (18 November)
RTPI NW held an event on 'Spatial planning adapting to climate change'. See a write up of the event.
DECC have published the Updated Energy and Emissions Projections 2011.
Centre for Sustainable Energy chief executive, Simon Roberts has said that engagement of the UK's 'citizenry' is key to delivering renewable energy.

Policy changes and consultations

Lord McKenzie tabled TCPA amendments to the Localism Bill on planning and climate change, which the RTPI has supported as a member of the Climate Change Coalition.

We have submitted our response to the draft NPPF. In it we said 'climate change is treated as a cross cutting issue in the PPS 1 supplement. The NPPF narrows ambitions about climate change by putting it in the planning for places category. To restrict climate change in this way is a retrograde step'.

DECC has launched a consultation on the Comprehensive Review of Feed-in Tariffs, which suggests there will be a reduction in the subsidy available. Responses should be submitted by 23 December 2011.

There are currently no climate change consultations the RTPI is responding to. View all Open consultations or email Policy Team.

Practice

Local authorities, bug society and adaptation to climate change - LGiU (Sept 2011). Project that looked at existing toolkits to support community involvement in local adaptation and how they can take forward big society work in promoting adaptation to climate change.
Planning and Climate Change Guide: guidance and model policies for local authorities - TCPA, in conjunction with the RTPI (Nov 2010). Aims to help LAs and LEPs who want to both tackle climate change and reap the benefits that renewable energy and effective adaptation can bring.
Sustainable energy in the built environment: best practice for Scottish planners - Energy Saving Trust, in conjunction with the RTPI Institute (2010). Helps public sector planners to develop policies and make decisions that promote sustainable energy use and production at a domestic level.
Environmental Sustainability and Climate Change - Local Government Improvement and Development. Looks at why local government needs to act and what the sector is already doing.
Adapting to Climate Change in the UK: measuring progress (14 July) says local planning policies are starting to result in applications containing design features to combat climate change.
DECC have published the UK Renewable Energy Roadmap, which sets out how to accelerate the UK’s deployment and use of renewable energy. It identifies the eight technologies that have either the greatest potential (12 July).
Our Climate Change Compendium links to key web sites, guidance, research and case studies giving practice advice and supporting information on climate change.

Networks

Network Climate Change Champions promote the concept that tackling climate change is applicable to all aspects of planning. Join a Network.

RTPI Projects and Research

Our Seven Commitments on Climate Change demonstrate the importance we place on tackling climate change, and form a detailed plan for future RTPI activities. Read about our progress so far.
To celebrate the 2011 Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning Conference and World Habitat Day, Routledge has launched the Cities and Climate Change collection - over sixty articles on transport and the environment, sustainable urban housing and fuel and the urban environment. Many are free to access until 31 December 2011.
ESPON Climate - will develop indicators on the impact of climate change on regional and local economies and infrastructures. Planning Research and Climate Change - gives details on latest research and RTPI partners.
The RTPI is developing an e-learning online project. One of the first topics being covered is climate change.
Urban Design Network member, Steve Lorimer has written on urban design as a driver for tackling climate change.

Our viewpoint

We believe that policies that promote climate change mitigation and adaptation need to be mainstreamed into general planning policy. It is important not to rely on new development to ensure a sustainable global future, because existing places generate the majority of carbon emissions, resource and energy use. It is necessary to adapt these places to achieve sustainable development and to ensure that planning supports and encourages these changes.

More information/events/cpd

Sustainable Construction and Renewable Energy Production, The Eden Project, St Austell, 15 June 2012. Other RTPI climate change events are planned.
TCPA are running free Climate Change Skills Training for Planners and Elected Members in the East of England between Sept 11 and January 2012.
Get involved. Email practice@rtpi.org.uk.